APPENDIX.

No. I.

ESSAY I.

OF IMPUDENCE AND MODESTY,

I HAVE always been of opinion, that the common complaints against Providence are ill-grounded, and that the good or bad qualities of men are the causes of their good or bad fortune more than what is generally imagined. There are, no doubt, inftances to the contrary, and these too pretty numerous; but few in comparison of the inftances we have of a right diftribution of profperity and adverfity: nor, indeed, could it be otherwife from the common courfe of human affairs. To be endowed with a benevolent difpofition, and to love others, will almost infallibly procure love and efteem, which is the chief circumstance in life, and facilitates every enterprize and undertaking; befides the fatisfaction which immediately refults from it. The cafe is much the fame with the other vir tues. Prosperity is naturally, though not neceffarily attached to virtue and merit; and adverfity, in like manner, to vice and folly. B b

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I muft, however, confefs, that this rule admits of an exception with regard to one moral quality; and that modesty has a natural tendency to conceal a man's talents, as impudence displays them to the utmost, and has been the only cause why many have risen in the world, under all the disadvantages of low birth and little merit. Such indolence and incapacity is there in the generality of mankind, that they are apt to receive a man for whatever he has a mind to put himself off for; and admit his overbearing airs as proofs of that merit which he affumes to himfelf. A decent affurance seems to be the natural attendant on virtue, and few men can diftinguish impudence from it: as, on the other hand, diffidence, being the natural refult of vice and folly, has drawn difgrace upon modefty, which in outward appearance fo nearly resembles it.

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[I was lately lamenting to a friend of mine, who loves a conceit, that popular applaufe fhould be bestowed with fo little judgment, and that fo many empty forward coxcombs fhould rise up to a figure in the world: upon which he faid there was nothing furprising in the cafe. Popular fame, says he, is nothing but breath or air; and air very naturally preffes into a vacuum *.]

As impudence, though really a vice, has the fame effects upon a man's fortune, as if it were a virtue; fo we may observe, that it is almost as diffi

*This paragraph is not in the edition of 1760.

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cult to be attained, and is, in that refpect, diftinguished from all the other vices, which are acquired with little pains, and continually increase upon indulgence. Many a man, being fenfible that modefty is extremely prejudicial to him in making his fortune, has refolved to be impudent, and to put a bold face upon the matter; but it is obfervable, that fuch people have feldom fucceeded in the attempt, but have been obliged to relapfe into their primitive modefty. Nothing carries a man through the world like a true genuine natural impudence. Its counterfeit is good for nothing, nor can ever fupport itfelf. In any other attempt, whatever faults a man commits and is fenfible of, he is fo much the nearer his end. But when he endeavours at impudence, if he ever failed in the attempt, the remembrance of that failure will make him blush, and will infallibly difconcert him; after which every blufh is a caufe for new blufhes, till he be found out to be an arrant cheat, and a vain pretender to impudence.

If any thing can give a modeft man more affurance, it must be fome advantages of fortune, which chance procures to him. Riches naturally gain a man a favourable reception in the world, and give merit a double luftre, when a perfon is endowed with it; and they fupply its place, in a great measure when it is abfent. It is wonderful to obferve, what airs of fuperiority fools and knaves, with large poffeffions, give themselves above men of the greatest merit in poverty. Nor do the men

of merit make any strong oppofition to thefe ufurpations; or rather feem to favour them by the modefty of their behaviour. Their good fenfe and experience make them diffident of their judgment, and cause them to examine every thing with the greatest accuracy. As, on the other hand, the delicacy of their fentiments makes them timorous left they commit faults, and lofe in the practice of the world that integrity of virtue, fo to speak, of which they are so jealous. To make wisdom agree with confidence,is as difficult as to reconcile vice and modesty.

These are the reflections, which have occurred upon this subject of impudence and modesty and I hope the reader will not be displeased to see them wrought into the following allegory.

Jupiter, in the beginning, joined Virtue, Wisdom, and Confidence together; and Vice, Folly and Diffidence; and thus connected, fent them into the world. But though he thought that he had matched them with great judgment, and faid that Confidence was the natural companion of Virtue, and that Vice deferved to be attended with Diffidence, they had not gone far before diffention arose among them. Wisdom, who was the guide of the one company, was always accustomed, before the ventured upon any road, however beaten, to examine it carefully, to inquire whither it led, what dangers, difficulties, and hindrances might poffibly or probably occur in it. In thefe deliberations fhe ufually confumed fome time; which delay was

very difpleafing to Confidence, who was always inclined to hurry on, without much forethought or deliberation, in the first road he met. Wisdom and Virtue were infeparable: but Confidence one day, following his impetuous nature, advanced a confiderable way before his guides and companions; and not feeling any want of their company, he never enquired after them, nor ever met with them In like manner, the other fociety, though joined by Jupiter, difagreed and feparated. As Folly faw very little way before her, fhe had nothing to determine concerning the goodness of roads, nor could give the preference to one above another; and this want of refolution was increased by Diffidence, who, with her doubts and fcruples, always retarded the journey. This was a great annoyance to Vice, who loved not to hear of difficulties and delays, and was never fatisfied without his full career, in whatever his inclinations led him to. Folly, he knew, though fhe hearkened to Diffidence, would be eafily managed when alone; and, therefore, as a vicious horfe throws his rider, he openly beat away this controller of all his pleafures, and proceeded in his journey with Folly, from whom he is infeparable. Confidence and Diffidence being, after this manner, both thrown lofe from their respective companies, wandered for fome time; till at laft chance led them at the fame time to one village. Confidence went directly up to the great houfe, which belonged to Wealth, the lord of the village; and, without ftaying for a porter, intruded himself immediately into the innermoft apartments,

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